I finally made it to the biggest city of Alabama -- Birmingham. Pretty amusing that I didn't make it there until now, and I don't think I got quite the whole flavor of Birmingham. So I may be making another trip. I certainly didn't get shopping done at Galleria or Summit (where Saks Fifth resides).
I made it to Five Points South, which is an area near the University of Alabama. There were quite a few outdoor cafes and restaurants (and yes, including a Starbucks). Although not a lot were open (I went around 10:30-11 a.m. on Saturday). I did get a chance to look around a bit, then stop in at Cobb Lane Restaurant for fried green tomatoes and chicken salad. I thought the fried green tomatoes were not as good as I've had elsewhere, but the chicken salad was rather distinctive.
I then made my way to Carver Theatre to take a look around their museum, Jazz Hall of Fame Museum. It wasn't very big, but it had some tributes to jazz greats such as W.C. Handy and Ella Fitzgerald. Against a background of jazz music wafting through the museum, I did feel that maybe I was transported back in time a bit.
I stopped by Southern Museum of Flight. I felt like such a kid, goggling at all the airplanes. There were a number of different types of planes -- experimental to early age. There were also memorabilia from World War II (not in the photos). All in all, it was quite interesting.
It was a good day of sightseeing. Next Saturday, I found out that Montgomery is waiving its portion of the sales tax (3.5%). So I think I will be doing some shopping... to take advantage of 6.5% sales tax! ;)
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Chicken salad for lunch at Cobb Lane Restaurant.
Cobb Lane, a cobblestone alley, has a restaurant and few other shops. I had my lunch down this lane.
A parting shot of Cobb Lane Restaurant where I lunched (and quite well!)
I was at Five Points South of Birmingham and saw some buildings made of all brick, like this one.
Five Points South Circle, where outdoor cafes and restaurants abound.
I stopped by Carver Theatre, Jazz Hall of Fame Museum. This is a collection in tribute to Erskine Hawkins.
I stopped by Carver Theatre, Jazz Hall of Fame Museum. This is a collection in tribute to Erskine Hawkins.
If you know jazz, you know W.C. Handy.
A little blurb about the father of the blues, W.C. Handy.
Ella Fitzgerald was also given tribute.
Front of the Carver Theatre.
This airplane was right outside the Southern Museum of Flight.
Entrance of Southern Museum of Flight.
This was an interesting plane/helicopter??
The Marvel.
A little blurb about Ruan.
And here's the shot of Rutan.
A shot of all the airplanes in a hangar of general aviation in the museum. It was pretty cool to see a lot of different types of planes.
A little blurb about a chopper.
This is a helicopter.
The controls inside the helicopter.
The seats inside the chopper.
A close shot of another plane.
But notice that the tire is flat? I noticed that most planes' tires were flat... guess they don't want people flying out with them.
I had to take a picture of "Rolls Royce" 12 cylinder engine.
And this is the Rolls Royce 12 cylinder engine.
A blurb about a buzzard.
A shot of the buzzard.
Pretty cool looking cylinders, eh? These are in rotational wheel.
A shot of early aircraft hangar.
A blurb about a replica.
I think this is a replica of what Wright Brothers flew.
This has an engine so that the plane can fly for longer.
Don't know why a car would be included in this museum, but Ford Model T was pretty cool.
Look at this Ford!
Not much instrument for driving.
A view from the side.
Can you imagine being a "wing walker"?? That's what they did for shows!
A blurb about wing-walking.
A model of USS Enterprise (not a starship), with model planes on its deck.
A last shot of the plane as I was leaving.
And the last blurb.
Birmingham's skyscrapers.
Cobb Lane, a cobblestone alley, has a restaurant and few other shops. I had my lunch down this lane.
A parting shot of Cobb Lane Restaurant where I lunched (and quite well!)
I was at Five Points South of Birmingham and saw some buildings made of all brick, like this one.
Five Points South Circle, where outdoor cafes and restaurants abound.
I stopped by Carver Theatre, Jazz Hall of Fame Museum. This is a collection in tribute to Erskine Hawkins.
I stopped by Carver Theatre, Jazz Hall of Fame Museum. This is a collection in tribute to Erskine Hawkins.
If you know jazz, you know W.C. Handy.
A little blurb about the father of the blues, W.C. Handy.
Ella Fitzgerald was also given tribute.
Front of the Carver Theatre.
This airplane was right outside the Southern Museum of Flight.
Entrance of Southern Museum of Flight.
This was an interesting plane/helicopter??
The Marvel.
A little blurb about Ruan.
And here's the shot of Rutan.
A shot of all the airplanes in a hangar of general aviation in the museum. It was pretty cool to see a lot of different types of planes.
A little blurb about a chopper.
This is a helicopter.
The controls inside the helicopter.
The seats inside the chopper.
A close shot of another plane.
But notice that the tire is flat? I noticed that most planes' tires were flat... guess they don't want people flying out with them.
I had to take a picture of "Rolls Royce" 12 cylinder engine.
And this is the Rolls Royce 12 cylinder engine.
A blurb about a buzzard.
A shot of the buzzard.
Pretty cool looking cylinders, eh? These are in rotational wheel.
A shot of early aircraft hangar.
A blurb about a replica.
I think this is a replica of what Wright Brothers flew.
This has an engine so that the plane can fly for longer.
Don't know why a car would be included in this museum, but Ford Model T was pretty cool.
Look at this Ford!
Not much instrument for driving.
A view from the side.
Can you imagine being a "wing walker"?? That's what they did for shows!
A blurb about wing-walking.
A model of USS Enterprise (not a starship), with model planes on its deck.
A last shot of the plane as I was leaving.
And the last blurb.
Birmingham's skyscrapers.
Monday, June 20, 2005
Laying Low
So where have I been last three weeks? No where. Hence, no new blogs. After the Spoleto Festival visit, I was too pooped to plan an itinerary the following weekend. The weekend after that, tropical storm Arlene ruined the weather for me to get outside. And this past weekend? I decided I had too much work and couldn't get away. I'm still dying to see the sites of Birmingham (it is, after all, the biggest city in Alabama), Florence (where Helen Keller grew up), and Scottsborough.
I did see a couple of movies. And I definitely recommend watching Batman Begins. It's much better than other Batman movies and, as a non-comic reader, explains how Gotham became infested with bizarre psycho criminals. Christian Bale was very good as the Batman, and there were just enough comic reliefs here and there that made this movie not so heavy.
All righty. Hopefully, this weekend, I will be making my way up to see the rest of Alabama. Until then!
I did see a couple of movies. And I definitely recommend watching Batman Begins. It's much better than other Batman movies and, as a non-comic reader, explains how Gotham became infested with bizarre psycho criminals. Christian Bale was very good as the Batman, and there were just enough comic reliefs here and there that made this movie not so heavy.
All righty. Hopefully, this weekend, I will be making my way up to see the rest of Alabama. Until then!
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